Language is an integral instrument in understanding a distinct culture. Subtleties that define a certain group of people are captured in its language. Nuances about a culture can sometimes only be truly demonstrated through its unique linguistic patterns. Therefore, losing this important key is detrimental to the history of many peoples. However, despite this reality, languages are disappearing from the world at an alarming rate. Because of technological advancements, the world community is becoming more assimilated which has both positive and negative consequences. This normally results in smaller ethnic groups conforming themselves to the more dominant, powerful ones. There are 6,059 languages with 1 or more speakers but there are only 80 languages with 10^7 or more speakers. This great diversity of linguistic variation is slowly waning. However, some ethnic groups are fighting this trend, desperately trying to maintain their link to their culture and their history.
Indian tribes in the United States are currently in the process of reviving their dead languages. They understand that language is an essential component of their culture, and by promoting its learning, their culture will become more accessible to the generations of today. According to the article “Indian Tribes Go in Search of Their Lost Languages,” some of these Indian tribes are starting almost completely from scratch. The American Indians on Long Island have very few records of their written language and have to try to resurrect their dead language from those rare manuscripts. However, they are persistent in their efforts because they understand the significance their project will have on their cultures. This linguistic resurrection from the dead actually has proven successful before. Modern Hebrew is the success story for language rebirth. It was not spoken for 2,000 years, but with the advent of the creation of Israel, it became adopted and popularized. While these languages will not ultimately sound exactly like they did 2,000 years ago, the insight that they offer into these ancient cultures is unparalleled.
Reviving a dead language is an extremely difficult proposition. However, it is done much more successfully if it becomes “cool” to teenagers to speak this old language. Marten Youssef admits this in his article “Want to be cool? First, you have to learn the language” by describing his process of learning a new language. He immigrated to Canada and was put into ESL programs. To become better integrated into the community, he learned English to the best of his abilities. Like Youssef, youngsters are much more likely to spend time learning and speaking a new language if it is deemed to be “cool.” How the older individuals who are trying to spark this renaissance will manage to create a sense of “cool” is a difficult question. Hopefully, some strong-willed teenagers who don’t want their parents to understand what they are saying will take an interest in these new languages which will help to combat the negative consequences of globalization.
Great post! I like the idea of teenagers reviving an ancient language as a way of keeping their communications secret from their parents. That would of course work only one generation forward, but it’s a good start! Why do you think ‘being cool’ is important to reviving a language? What does it tell us about people’s relationship to language?
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